Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was detained and questioned at the Newark Airport in New Jersey for almost two hours on Friday, ostensibly because of his surname. Ironically, Khan’s forthcoming film, the Karan Johar-directed My Name Is Khan, deals with the story of a moderate Muslim whose life is impacted by post-9/11 America.

The 43-year-old actor was pulled aside after his name cropped up in the airport’s database following a random check on parameters like age and origin. He was told he had a “common name” and that was causing the delay. Khan, who said he felt “angry and humiliated”, was headed to Chicago to attend a parade marking India’s Independence Day.

After checking him and his baggage, officials at the airport allowed Khan to proceed, but only after the Indian Consul General identified him. “I was really hassled at the American airport because my name is Khan. They interrogated me for a couple of hours, wanting to know if I knew anyone in America. While all around people from India and Pakistan were vouching for me, these guys just wouldn’t let me through,” Shah Rukh Khan said.

“Finally they allowed me to make a call, which I did, and the Indian Consulate helped me through. (This is) absolutely uncalled for, I think...I had just finished working there for more than a month. They said I have a common name, which was causing the delay. They checked my bags. I felt angry and humiliated,” he added.

“It is understood that Mr Shah Rukh Khan is currently touring the USA. He flew into Newark international airport late last evening (Indian time), where he was taken aside for ‘secondary questioning’. The Consul General of India got in touch with him immediately upon learning about the incident. Mr Khan said that he was all right. The Consulate offered him any assistance that he may require,” an MEA spokesperson said. “The Ministry has separately taken up the matter with the US Embassy in New Delhi, which is ascertaining factual details,” the spokesperson added.

... contd.